Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Heathen · 05-26-2003, 09:46 PM

This has probably been discussed before, but it was on my mind on the moment and I felt like I had to rant.

I'm sure I'm not alone in this opinion, but I think the world is a pretty sad place when I can't openly admit I'm atheist without being harassed, insulted, what have you. Is atheism really that scary? I know I'm not a bad person; anyone who knows me doesn't think so either (at least I hope not

) but what the majority of people don't know is that I'm an atheist. What makes this wrong? I wouldn't hurt anyone, I'm nice.. if I ever came out I'm afraid that everyone would think I was some horrible person.

But what's horrible about not believing in a god? You just believe in one less god than most people do, and if you do the right things (which is subjective, but that's beside the point), then what's the big deal? I've met Christians that acted worse than I did. Yet, why are they any better than me, because they believe in God?

With all this war talk flying around, it's worse; if you don't believe in God, you must be an evil commie and a scum. I like America, too, even though it has its flaws, but since when did I have to believe in God to support my country? I honestly think the world would be better without organized religion.. I only see the discrimination towards atheists getting worse. I want to believe this is a free country, but sometimes it just doesn't look that way.

pariah · 05-26-2003, 09:59 PM

i think that christians think it is a direct attack on their faith...which it is not.

i got this email today

Quote:

There is a little old lady, who, every morning steps onto her front porch, raises her arms to the sky and shouts, "PRAISE THE LORD!"

One day an atheist moves into the house next door. He becomes irritated at the little old lady, so every morning, he steps onto his front porch after her and yells, "THERE IS NO LORD!" Time passes with the two of them carrying on this way every day. Then one morning, in the middle of winter, the little old lady steps onto her front porch and shouts, "PRAISE THE LORD! Please Lord I have no food and I am starving, provide for me, oh Lord!"

The next morning she steps onto her porch and there are two HUGE bags of groceries sitting there. "PRAISE THE LORD!" she cries out. "HE HAS PROVIDED GROCERIES FOR ME!" The atheist neighbor jumps out of the hedges and shouts, "THERE IS NO LORD. I BOUGHT THOSE GROCERIES!"

The little old lady throws her arms into the air and shouts,
"PRAISE THE LORD! HE HAS PROVIDED ME WITH GROCERIES AND MADE THE DEVIL PAY FOR THEM!"

I was going to respond with something witty, but its not even worth it anymore. I hate people.

Edited to clean up quote. a

Elvithriel · 05-26-2003, 10:02 PM

Just call yourself a Humanist like myself. You still don't beleive in God but it doesn't sound as scary to people who have grown up with the idea of an athiest meaning your an evil scumbag.

Or you can just stick with Athiest and explain to them why your not evil.

I have the same problem with the word 'hacker'. Originally the term meant someone who hacks on computer code. Now days to most people it means someone who breaks into computers and cracks protection on media. I just stoped saying I was a hacker because it was too much trouble telling people I can't take over their computer

pariah · 05-26-2003, 10:06 PM

but humanism is a philosophy on life, not a religion.

besides, im not a humanist, and im sure other atheists arent humanist by choice as well.

anyway, when people ask me what religion i am, i just tell them i dont have a religion. atheism isnt a religion anyway.

Elvithriel · 05-26-2003, 10:14 PM

Its true that Humanism has an ethical code and philosophy, which I happen to agree with.

Calling an yourself an Atheist only tells someone a single thing about you, nothing else.

pariah · 05-26-2003, 10:20 PM

well, the humanist thing wouldnt work for me in the first place...BUT what i was trying to say is this

PERSONALLY, i wouldnt tell them that i was a humanist if they ask me what my religion is. because it is not a religion, and it may confuse them. maybe you could say, "i dont have a religion", and when they ask u if u have purpose in life (as most will, trying to get you to find jesus...) tell them you are a humanist.

like u said, to each his own. ;]

Elvithriel · 05-26-2003, 10:22 PM

Heh, I have trouble finishing my posts before I click Submit. Just after clicking it I think of something else to say.

Sorry about that

Elvithriel · 05-26-2003, 10:56 PM

I wouldn't say Humanist if someone asks about religion either.

Just curious, but why doesn't it work for you? Don't have to answer that.

pariah · 05-26-2003, 11:01 PM

i am an objectivist...i guess you could say objectivism is a kind of humanism but that is only on a very broad scope.

Ronin · 05-27-2003, 12:31 AM

I got this one from a friend's SoBab mother in one of her 'CC all' moods ~

"The Little Girl

Her parents never took the young girl to church,
never spoke of his name,
never read her his word.
Two non-believers walking lost in this world,
took thier baby with them,
what a sad little girl.

Her daddy drank all day and her mommy did drugs,
never wanted to play,
or give kisses and hugs.
She'd watch the tv and sit there on the couch,
while her mom fell asleep,
and her daddy went out.

And the drinking and the fighting,
just got worse every night.
Behind thier couch she'd be hiding,
oh what a sad little life.
And like it always does,
the bad just got worse,with every slap and every curse.
Until her daddy in a drunk rage one night,
used a gun on her mom, and then took his life.

And some people from the city,
took the girl far away.
To a new mom,
and a new dad,
kisses and hugs everyday.
Her first day of sunday school,
the teacher walked in,
and a small little girl,
stared at a picture of him.

She said I know that man,
there on that cross.
I don't know his name,
but I know he got off.
Cause he was there in my old house,
he held me close to his side,
as i hid there behind our couch,
the night that my parents died. "

I think it's a country music song...and since country music makes my ears bleed, I'm not sure who sings it.

I suppose if one hears this type of bias most sundays, one would tend to see non-believers as supremely bad or lost people.

Truth should never stand in the way of any good dogma worth its corporate indoctrinations.

05-26-2003, 09:46 PM	#1
Heathen Regular Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Texas Posts: 200	Why is atheism bad? This has probably been discussed before, but it was on my mind on the moment and I felt like I had to rant. I'm sure I'm not alone in this opinion, but I think the world is a pretty sad place when I can't openly admit I'm atheist without being harassed, insulted, what have you. Is atheism really that scary? I know I'm not a bad person; anyone who knows me doesn't think so either (at least I hope not ) but what the majority of people don't know is that I'm an atheist. What makes this wrong? I wouldn't hurt anyone, I'm nice.. if I ever came out I'm afraid that everyone would think I was some horrible person. But what's horrible about not believing in a god? You just believe in one less god than most people do, and if you do the right things (which is subjective, but that's beside the point), then what's the big deal? I've met Christians that acted worse than I did. Yet, why are they any better than me, because they believe in God? With all this war talk flying around, it's worse; if you don't believe in God, you must be an evil commie and a scum. I like America, too, even though it has its flaws, but since when did I have to believe in God to support my country? I honestly think the world would be better without organized religion.. I only see the discrimination towards atheists getting worse. I want to believe this is a free country, but sometimes it just doesn't look that way.

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05-26-2003, 10:02 PM	#3
Elvithriel Regular Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Canada Posts: 127	Just call yourself a Humanist like myself. You still don't beleive in God but it doesn't sound as scary to people who have grown up with the idea of an athiest meaning your an evil scumbag. Or you can just stick with Athiest and explain to them why your not evil. I have the same problem with the word 'hacker'. Originally the term meant someone who hacks on computer code. Now days to most people it means someone who breaks into computers and cracks protection on media. I just stoped saying I was a hacker because it was too much trouble telling people I can't take over their computer

05-26-2003, 10:06 PM	#4
pariah Banned Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: الرياض Posts: 6,456	but humanism is a philosophy on life, not a religion. besides, im not a humanist, and im sure other atheists arent humanist by choice as well. anyway, when people ask me what religion i am, i just tell them i dont have a religion. atheism isnt a religion anyway.

05-26-2003, 10:14 PM	#5
Elvithriel Regular Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Canada Posts: 127	Its true that Humanism has an ethical code and philosophy, which I happen to agree with. Calling an yourself an Atheist only tells someone a single thing about you, nothing else.

05-26-2003, 10:20 PM	#6
pariah Banned Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: الرياض Posts: 6,456	well, the humanist thing wouldnt work for me in the first place...BUT what i was trying to say is this PERSONALLY, i wouldnt tell them that i was a humanist if they ask me what my religion is. because it is not a religion, and it may confuse them. maybe you could say, "i dont have a religion", and when they ask u if u have purpose in life (as most will, trying to get you to find jesus...) tell them you are a humanist. like u said, to each his own. ;]

05-26-2003, 10:22 PM	#7
Elvithriel Regular Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Canada Posts: 127	Heh, I have trouble finishing my posts before I click Submit. Just after clicking it I think of something else to say. Sorry about that

05-26-2003, 10:56 PM	#8
Elvithriel Regular Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Canada Posts: 127	I wouldn't say Humanist if someone asks about religion either. Just curious, but why doesn't it work for you? Don't have to answer that.

05-26-2003, 11:01 PM	#9
pariah Banned Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: الرياض Posts: 6,456	i am an objectivist...i guess you could say objectivism is a kind of humanism but that is only on a very broad scope.

05-27-2003, 12:31 AM	#10
Ronin Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Mississippi Posts: 5,047	I got this one from a friend's SoBab mother in one of her 'CC all' moods ~ "The Little Girl Her parents never took the young girl to church, never spoke of his name, never read her his word. Two non-believers walking lost in this world, took thier baby with them, what a sad little girl. Her daddy drank all day and her mommy did drugs, never wanted to play, or give kisses and hugs. She'd watch the tv and sit there on the couch, while her mom fell asleep, and her daddy went out. And the drinking and the fighting, just got worse every night. Behind thier couch she'd be hiding, oh what a sad little life. And like it always does, the bad just got worse,with every slap and every curse. Until her daddy in a drunk rage one night, used a gun on her mom, and then took his life. And some people from the city, took the girl far away. To a new mom, and a new dad, kisses and hugs everyday. Her first day of sunday school, the teacher walked in, and a small little girl, stared at a picture of him. She said I know that man, there on that cross. I don't know his name, but I know he got off. Cause he was there in my old house, he held me close to his side, as i hid there behind our couch, the night that my parents died. " I think it's a country music song...and since country music makes my ears bleed, I'm not sure who sings it. I suppose if one hears this type of bias most sundays, one would tend to see non-believers as supremely bad or lost people. Truth should never stand in the way of any good dogma worth its corporate indoctrinations.

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